Solo Music Gear TCK-12 User manual

Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved
Solo Tele Style DIY
Electric Guitar Kit
Assembly Manual
TCK-12
V 1.02

Solo Tele Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved | v1.02
1
Materials List
Hex threaded peghead bushings with washers (12 pcs)
String Retainers (2 pcs, 2 mounting screw included)
Neck
Tuning Machines (12 pcs, 12 mounting screws included)
Strings (12 pcs)
Strap Buttons (2 pcs, 2 mounting screws included)
Pickguard Assembly (8 mounting screws included)
Bridge Assembly (3 mounting screws included)
Body
Neck Plate (4 mounting screws included)
Control Plate Assembly (2 mounting screws included)
Jack plate (2 mounting screws included)
Cord
Hex wrench for truss-rod adjustment
Allen Key for saddle height adjustment
Show Off Your Custom Built Guitar!
W
hen you have your guitar finished, please take a few pictures and send them to us for potential posting into
the picture gallery on our website.
Post your photos to our Facebook page
http://Facebook.com/SoloMusicGear
Post your photos to The Solo Café
http://TheSoloCafe.com
Remember, you can always find us online at http://SoloMusicGear.com to upgrade your parts, try a new kit,
or ask us a question.

Solo Tele Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved | v1.02
2
Thank you for purchasing a Solo DIY guitar kit. This unfinished guitar kit has everything for building an
electric bass guitar –you will need only some basic tools and finishing supplies. All challenging wood
cutting, drilling and shaping is already professionally done, as well as fret leveling and dressing.
1. CHECKLIST
Before you start working on your DIY guitar project, please check all the parts received in this kit using the
materials list above.
2. TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED
You will need the following tools and materials:
1. Sand Paper (180, 240 and 320 grit)
2. Sanding Block
3. Soldering Iron & Solder
4. Masking Tape
5. Finishing Supplies
6. Screwdrivers
7. Power Drill
3. SAFETY MEASURES
Some woodworking skills are required to complete this project. Always be aware of the necessary safety
precautions and follow them –be sure to use safety glasses and a dust mask when you are working with any
tools. If you are a novice, you should look for help and guidance of a more experienced friend. And never
forget that it’s always better safe than sorry.
4. FINISHING THE BODY AND NECK
Before you start finishing the neck, please inspect the frets and the fingerboard. Even though all wood is kiln-
dried it may still shrink a little so you may get sharp fret edges.
In this case you need to use a fine needle file (Emory boards for finger nails can be used instead) to remove all
sharp edges: first make all fret edges flat with the fretboard edges on both sides, than use masking tape on
the top of the fretboard to protect it, and work on each fret’s edge to smooth it by slightly rounding it. Before
removing the masking tape, consider polishing the frets with fine steel wool.
STEP 1 –The body and neck have been coated with a poly resin sealant. They need to be sanded before

Solo Tele Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved | v1.02
3
finishing. DO NOT SAND THE FINGERBOARD.
For sanding both neck and body, use a flat sanding block for all flat surfaces and by hand for edges and
rounded/curved surfaces. Start with 180 grit sandpaper, continue with 240 and finish with 320, always
moving along the grain only. Before the final sanding, wipe the wood with a damp cloth and let it dry to raise
the wood grain.
STEP 2 –There are many different ways to apply finish to your guitar. Do a little research to decide which
type of finish you want to use. One good starting point is to review tutorials at the Project Guitar website:
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/tutorial5.htm
STEP 3 - For any type of spraying finish (lacquer or paint) you will need to mask three areas with masking
tape: neck pocket on the body, neck’s fingerboard and truss rod nut. Press the tape tightly to the wood, not
allowing any gaps at the edges, to completely prevent the finish leaking to these areas.
STEP 4 - You will also need to make hangers for both the body and neck (if you want to apply
any spraying finish). Make them from a strong metal wire (wire dress/coat hanger can be used for it).
STEP 5 –Apply the finish by following the manufacturer instructions. Remember that spraying the finish is not
an easy process as it requires certain skill and experience –you might want to practice first on some scrap
wood. Always remember your safety –work only in a well ventilated area, away from any open fire and wear
a respirator mask and safety glasses.
STEP 6 –Final polishing for high gloss finishes can be done manually or using a power drill with a foam
polishing pad. The finishing tools and materials are readily available in many automotive/hardware supplies
stores.
TIP: Consider an oil rubbed finish (sometimes called “wipe-on oil finish”) as a good and safe alternative.
Tru-Oil® (known as a “Gun Stock Finish”, based on Linseed Oil) or Waterlox® (Processed Tung Oil) is highly
recommended. Oil finishing takes longer, but it is very safe and easy to apply and a high quality finish can
be achieved, even by a novice.
5. ASSEMBLY
STEP 1 –Install the Machine Heads and String Tree Retainers on the neck’s headstock. Use the threaded hex
peghead bushings with washers - initially tightening them with your fingers only. Align each machine head to
match the holes for mounting screws and use the screws to secure the heads. Finally, tighten the hex bushings
with a socket wrench (or regular hex wrench). Note that string tree retainers have different heights; install the
higher one with a longer screw between the 3rd and 4th strings (G and D), and a shorter one between the 1st
and 2nd (E and B) strings.
STEP 2 - Attach the neck to the body using 4 screws with a neckplate and a setter.

Solo Tele Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved | v1.02
4
STEP 3 –Install the bridge. First insert the ground wire (the insulation must be removed on both ends,
about 1/3” – 8mm max) into the hole between the predrilled mounting screw holes and the bridge pickup
cavity (pull it through the second hole into the control cavity). Make sure that enough length of bare metal
wire is left on top of the body to make a secure contact with the bridge. Now, take the bridge with the
mounted pickup and insert the pickup’s wire into the hole between the pickup cavity and the control
cavity. Align the bridge with mounting screw holes and attach it tightly with 4 screws (7/8”).
STEP 4 –Install the pickguard. First, insert the neck pickup wire into the hole at the pickup cavity and
push it all the way through into the control cavity. Properly align and secure it with 8 screws (15/32”).
Do not over tighten the screws as it can crack the pickguard.
STEP 5 - Wire the control plate and pickups, ground wire and output jack. For wiring instructions, use
the diagram on the last page of this manual.
STEP 6 –After you complete the wiring, install the jackplate with the jack using 4 mounting screws, and then
install the control plate with 2 screws.
STEP 7 –Before stringing your guitar, apply some oil to the Rosewood fingerboard to protect it from possible
shrinking and cracking. Tung oil or Linseed oil work well, or it’s OK to use Walnut or Olive oil. One thin layer is
enough. Wipe the fingerboard thoroughly with a clean cloth.
STEP 8 –Install the strings by inserting them through the holes on the back of the bridge, over the bridge
saddles. There are a few different ways to wrap the strings around the post of a tuning head. When
threading the string through the post hole, bring it tight before wrapping it in the opposite direction of the
threading, under and then back over the string and around the post, holding it tight as you tighten to pitch.
Wrapping each string around two-three times should be enough.
6. TUNING AND SETUP
Tuning a 12-string guitar:
A 12 string guitar is split up into 6 pairs of 2 strings. The thicker string of the pair is tuned to the same note and octave as
a regular 6 string guitar. The thinner string, on the pair of strings 3-6, is tuned one octave higher than its pair.
Standard tuning of a 12-string guitar:
The open strings are tuned in pairs as follows:
•2 E strings tuned in octave (2nd octave and 3rd octave)
•2 A strings tuned in octave (2nd octave and 3rd octave)
•2 D strings tuned in octave (3rd octave and 4th octave)
•2 G strings tuned in octave (3rd octave and 4th octave)
•2 B strings tuned in unison (3rd h octave)
•2 E strings tuned in unison (4th octave)